‘Ordeal By Innocence’ To Kick Off Multi-Year Agatha Christie/BBC One Pact – Edinburgh

Agatha Christie Productions and BBC One have entered a deal for seven new Christie adaptations over the next four years. The first novel under the pact is Ordeal By Innocence which will be adapted by Sara Phelps. ACP is working with Mammoth Screen on the transfer. The book, which is one of Christie’s darker works and examines the psychology of innocence, is also said to have been one of the author’s personal favorites.

Other titles so far confirmed in the BBC deal include Death Comes As The End, a murder mystery set in Ancient Egypt; and The ABC Murders, a race against time to stop a serial killer who is operating across 1930s Britain.

Christie’s enduring works are particularly hot right now. Last December, BBC One aired miniseries And Then There Were None to critical and ratings success (Lifetime had it in the U.S.). Filming is currently underway on the high-profile adaptation of The Witness For The Prosecution for BBC One, A+E and Acorn and starring Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, Kim Cattrall, David Haig, Billy Howle and Monica Dolan. Meanwhile, Fox is plotting a big-screen take on the same material with Ben Affleck directing and starring. Christie’s 1925 short story is one of the author’s most celebrated titles and was later turned into a successful stage play and critically acclaimed 1957 film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Marlene Dietrich.

Phelps penned last year’s And Then There Were None and is also on Witness For The Prosecution. ITV-owned Mammoth is also producer on those adaptations; other credits include the upcoming Victoria; Poldark and the recently ordered Fearless.

Ordeal By Innocence will be executive produced by Agatha Christie Productions’ Hilary Strong and James Prichard; Karen Thrussell and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen; and Matthew Read for the BBC.